Potato-harvester.



C. l. CUMMINGS.

POTATO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. I9I5- Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Z SHEETS-SHEEI I.

(2.1. CUMMINGS.

POTATO HARVESTER.

APPLLCAHDN Flkiu APR. 5. 1915- 1,285,632. Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEI 2.

frf4 Z CHARLES J. CUMMINGS, F TULLY, NEW YORK.

POTATO-HARVESTEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, HHS.

Application filed April 5, 1915. Serial No. 19,1).

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARM-1s J. CUM- A MINGS, a citizen of the United States, residview ing at Tully, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Potato- Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to potato diggers or harvesting machines of the kind which dig the pmiatoes up from the ground.

The objects of the invention are to provide a machine of this kind with means of improved construction for facilitating the raising and lowering of the plow and the rear end of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of the machine embodying the invention, partly in section on line 1-1, Fig. 3, showing the parts of the machine in different positions.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertlcal section thereof on line M, Fig. 2, showing the counter-shaft from which the various movable parts of the separating mechanism are operated.

Fig. 5 is a fragi'nentary sectional plan of the connection between the two parts of the frame of the machine 111 line 5 5, Fig. 1.

A. represents the front ground wheels of the machine. B re resents the rear ground wheels of the machine which are secured on the rear axle b.

The frame of the machine may be of any suitable construction but is preferably made in three sections which are hinged or plvoted together for the purpose of facilitating the raising and lowering of the plow and of the rear portion of the machine. The front section of the frame comprises long1- tudinal bars C which are rigidly secured at their front ends to upwardly extending arms of an axle housing in which the main front axle is journaled. The rear ends of the bars are pivoted at 0 to the intermediate or plow supporting sectlon of the frame. Brace rods 0 connecting the front axle housing and the bars C serve to stiffen the front section of the frame. The intermediate frame section comprises two side plates D D arranged at' opposite sides of the machine and pivotally supported on the rear axle b. The plow, for dlgglng the potatoes up from the ground is secured to the front end of the intermediate -ection. The r m frame section comprises two plates l) l) which are pivotally connected to the plates D D. In the -on-zirnction shown the ionicmediate and rear sections are pivoted to turn about a shaft 0, which also acts as one of the drive shafts of the machine. Means are provided for retaining the plates ii I) and D D in alinenient. In the construction shown for this purpose, the plates E E are provided with slotted portions engaging with pins or bolts secured on the plates D D.

The intermediate and rear frame sections of the machine are preferably so connected that they can be adjusted relative to each other by means of a single lever, which, in the construction shown. mounted on the front frame section. For this purpose a transverse rod f is pivotally mounted on the two bars C at the front frame section and a hand lever F is rigidly secured there to. The hand lever is provided with the usual spring-actuated pawl or dog slidably secured on the lever and adapted to engage with a toothed segment f rigidly supported on one of the bars C. The rod f is provided at its opposite ends with arms f con nected by means of suitable connecting members or links 7" with projections or arms f of the plates E of the rear section. The rod f is also provided at opposite sides of the machine with arms f which, as shown, are formed integral with the arms i and are connected by means of connecting members or links f" with arms f suitably secured on the side plates D of the intermediate section. In the construction shown, the arms f are connected at one end to the lates D at c and are rigidly secured to t e front portions of the plates 1) by means of plates or connecting members f but any other means for rigldly securing the arms f on the plates D may be employed. When the plow and rear part of the machine are to be swung upwardly from their lower or operative positions, shown in Fig. 2, to their upper positions, shown in Fig. 1, the lever F is drawn rearwardly whereby the arms i and f will pull on the connecting members f and f re ectively to swing the rear and interme iate frame sections on their pivot and thus raise the rear end of the machine and plow so that the machine can be freely moved about. Other means may be employed, if desired, to accomplish this result.

I claim my invention:

1. In a potato harvester, the combination with front and rear ground wheels, of a frame consisting of a front; section, an intermediate section mounted on the rear wheels and pivotally connected with the front sec tion, and a rear section pivotally mounted on said intermediate section, a lever mounted on said front section, and links connecting said lever with said intermediate and rear sections.

2. In a potato harvester, the combination with front and rear ground wheels, of a frame consisting of a front section, an intermediate section mounted on the rear wheels and pivotally connected with the front sec tion, and a rear section pitotally mounted on said intermediate section, a lever ivoted on said front section, arms on said level, and links connecting said arms with said intermediate and rear sections for causing the sections to swing on the pivotal connec tion between the same.

In a potato harvester, the combination with front and rear ground Wheels, of a frame consisting of a front section, an intermediate section supported near its rear portion on the rear wheels, and a rear section pivoted near its front end to the rear end of the intermediate section, and a single lever connected with said front and intermediate sections for swinging the same about their pivotal connection.

:1. In a otato harrcstcr, the combination with the rent and rear ground Wheels, of a frame consisting of a front frame section supported at its front end on said front wheels, an intermediate section mounted at its rear end on said rear wheels and pivotally connected with said front section, and a rear section pivotally mounted. on said intermediate section, a lever pivoted on said front section, an arm secured on said intermediate section and extending into proximit to said lever, and link connections between said lever and said arm and between said lever and said rear section to raise and lower the front end of the intermediate section and the rear end of the rear section. v

5. In a )otato harvester, the combination with the from and Hall ground wheels, of a frame consisting of a front frame section snnnorted at. its front end on said front nheels. an intermediate section having Side plates pivoted on said rear wheels and pivotally connected with said front section, and a rear section havin'" side plates pivotally mounted on said intermediate section adjacent to the rear end thereof, an arm secured to said rear section and extending outwardly from the pivotalconnection of the rear and intermediate sections, a hand lever having an arm connected with said arm of the roar section and having a second arm connected with said intermediate section for raising and lowering the front end of the intermediate section and the rear end of the rear section.

\Yitness my hand, this 2nd day of April,

ltlifi.

(HARLEQ J. CUMMINGS. Witnesses:

H. H. H URLBUI. F. M. BROWN.

Gopin of thin patent may be obtained for five. cent; each, by addressing the Oommiuloner o! Patentl,

Washington, D. 0. 

